Distribution of the Galactic Bulge emission at |b|>2deg according to the RXTE Galactic Center scans

Abstract

We present an analysis of the Galactic bulge emission observed by the RXTE/PCA during a set of scans over the Galactic Center field, performed in 1999-2001. The total exposure time of these observations is close to 700 ksec. We construct the distribution of Galactic ridge emission intensity and spectral parameters up to Galactic latitudes b=-10deg;+9deg. We show that the intensity distribution of the ridge emission at |b|>2deg could be well described by an exponential model with e-folding width b_0~ 3.3deg. Best-fit spectral parameters do not show statistically significant changes over Galactic latitudeComment: 6 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic